Media – ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Professor Dagnija Blumberga awarded the Commander of the Order of the Cross of Merit

Mājas lapas moderators — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:12:15 +0000

It is with great pride and joy that we announce that Professor Dagnija Blumberga, a long-time scientist, lecturer and director of our institute, has been awarded the Order of the Commander of the Cross of Merit.

This high state award was granted for special merits for the benefit of the Latvian state, confirming her outstanding contribution to science, education and the promotion of sustainable development. The professor’s work has significantly influenced the development of the fields of energy and environmental protection in Latvia and beyond, as well as inspired generations of young researchers.

The award will be presented on the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia – November 18 – at the Riga Castle, at a solemn ceremony in the presence of the President of the Republic and the Chapter of the Orders.

We sincerely congratulate Professor Dagnija Blumberga on this high award and thank her for her invaluable contribution!

More information HERE!

Experimental data of the fog unit

Mājas lapas moderators — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 14:40:41 +0000

The project “Individual Heat Supply with Integrated Fog Unit System (IFUS)” collects experimental data at three boiler capacities (10 kW, 20 kW, 30 kW) and nozzles (MPL 1.51, MPL 1.12, MPL 0.77) used to obtain the data set to be analysed. The data analysis program Statgraphics XVII performed experimental data analysis to determine what parameters affect the capacity of the fog unit and the efficiency of particulate matter (PM).

Regression analysis was performed to determine the parameters affecting the capacity of the fog unit, in which the dependent variables are:

Flue gas temperature at inlet (t_g1) and outlet (t_g2);
Water temperature at inlet (t_w1) and outlet (t_w2);
Flue gas moisture content at inlet (ω₁) and outlet (ω₂);
Wet flue gas flow (V_mg);
Amount of water sprayed (G);
Injected water – flue gas ratio (g/V_mg);
Diameter of sprayed water droplets (d_d0);
Oxygen concentration in the flue gas (O₂);
Flue gas velocity at inlet (u_g1) and outlet (u_g2);
The amount of water sprayed per unit cross-section (g/S_MA).

The most important factors affecting the capacity of the fog unit are: t_w1, d_d0, g/V_mg, G, t_w2, V_mg.

Regression analysis was performed to determine the parameters affecting PM reduction efficiency, where the dependent variables are:

t_g1, t_g2, t_w1, t_w2, ω₁, ω₂, V_mg, G, g/V_mg, d_d0, O₂, u_g1, u_g2, g/S_MA;

injected water – droplet diameter ratio (g/d_d0);
surface formed by injection droplets in the fog unit (F_drop);
concentration of particulate matter before the fog unit (PM before)

The most important factors that influence the PM reduction efficiency of the fog unit are: t_g2, t_w2, ω₂, V_mg, G, g/V_mg.

The study is also featured on LTV1 broadcast “Environmental Facts”. The storyline of the show about air pollution can be found here.

Conference of Environmental and Climate Technologies CONECT 2017

Mājas lapas moderators — Sat, 13 May 2017 09:04:19 +0000

May 10–12 CONECT 2017 took place in RTU EEF. Within these days profesors, researchers, scientists and students from 25 countries presented their publications. Participants came from various continenta and countries – South Korea, Kazahstan, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Baltics and many others. 16 various topics were represented in this conference about the latest solutions, trends, novelties and technological development. The discussed and presented themes were various and related to renewable energy, smart grids, building efficiency, ecodesign, resilience, low carbon development and all linked with an aim of environmental protection and resource efficiency. The presented papers will be published in Elsevier Energy Procedia scientific journal. In the last day of the conference technocal tour to the modern landfill Getlini was organized.

RTU as organizers are honoured of the participants success and interest. We hope to enlarge the number of participants CONECT 2018.

Environmental Science Award 2017

Mājas lapas moderators — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 10:43:49 +0000

Environmental Science Award 2017 was held in University of Latvia on March 24 and it was the eighth time when it happened. The aim of this event is to evaluate and appreciate teachers, scientists, non-governmental organisations for the actualising the environmental problems and promoting sustainable environmental science and education.
This year, not only four already known nominations were awarded: „The new environmental scientist”, „Environment science teacher”, „Environmental activist group”, „Environment scientist and university pedagogue” but also „Bio-economy prize” was applied to an enterprise for developing an innovative product with high added value. The members of the jury from the Environmental Science and Education Council carefully examined every nominee in order to identify the best candidates for each nomination.
In the nomination „New environmental scientist,” first place was won by the researcher Aiga Barisa from Riga Technical University Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, who defended her PhD thesis „Modelling transition policies to a low-carbon road transport in Latvia by 2030” last year. Second place was shared by the researcher Anna Kubule from Riga Technical University Institute of Energy Systems and Environment and researcher and guest-assistant Kristine Valujeva from the Agricultural University of Latvia Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Management.
In category „Environmental scientist and university pedagogue” assistant professor Francesco Romagnoli from Riga Technical University Institute of Energy Systems and Environment won the first place, but his fellow researcher Jelena Pubule, won second place.
Biology, science and environmental education teacher and teacher of the methodological association Daiga Martinsone from Skriveri Andrejs Upitis Secondary School was awarded as the best environmental science teacher. Second place was shared by Ilga Verovkina – biology teacher in Valmiera Viesturs Secondary School and Inita Rulle – teacher in Saldus Secondary School.
The most points in category „Environmental activist group” was gained by association „Solis Dabā” („Step in Nature”), they are organising different kind of events, that are raising awareness about climate change, adaption to climate change and ecological and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Also in this category second place was shared by two organisations: Student association ”Šalkone” which was established to increase communication about forests and their importance. Other nominee which got the prize was Ventspils Secondary School No. 4, for organising forest days for more than 10 years in a row. This event is for children and their families, they go and plant a forest all together and in that way they can learn a lot about the forest and all the processes in it.
For the first time in the history of the Environmental Science Awards, honour of „The Bio-economy Prize was awarded for the contribution to the development of a bio-economy by producing products with high added value. This prize was received by Latvijas Finieris AS for innovative products: the birch bark extract with a high content of betulin.

Let’s take inspiration from the winner’s progress to strengthen both the importance of the environmental science and public education to develop the economics.
„Environmental Science Awards 2017” was organised by the Latvian Environmental Science and Education Council in cooperation with the Association of Latvian Environmental Science Students. Latvian Environmental Science and Education Council is coordinating and consulting crossectorial organization that makes decisions that have recommendatory nature in development of environmental science and education. Award was supported by Riga Technical University Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, University of Latvia, Agricultural University of Latvia, Liepaja University, Rezekne Academy of Technologies, society “Nature Concerthall”, Ltd. “Ekodoma” and Ltd. “ZAAO”.
This event was organized by the University of Latvia and Riga Technical University Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, University of Latvia, Daugavpils University, Agricultural University of Latvia, Liepaja University and Rezekne Academy of Technologies.

Pictures from the event are available HERE.

IESE PhD student is one of the TOP 20 Women in Business in Northern Europe!

Mājas lapas moderators — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 10:43:58 +0000

Ginta Cimdina is well-known by the crème de la crème of European energy circles, notably because of her role as chair since 2009 of Fortum Jelgava, the Latvian district heating operator of Fortum, a large Finnish energy company, which focuses its operations in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and Russia. Formally educated in finance and environmental sciences related to the energy industry,Ms Cimdina has more than 20 years professional experience in the energy sector. She is an active representative of Fortum in many NGOs, including the Association of District Heating Companies in Latvia and the Latvian Renewable Energy Federation. She currently holds the position of vice chair of the Foreign Investors Council in Latvia (FICIL), a position she has held since 2012.